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Curriculums....Are they necessary?

Are curriculums a necessity for you and why? What makes having a curriculum better or easier for your homeschooling experience?

I would have loved having a curriculum when first starting out homeschooling but couldn't really afford one, so made do with ones I made up for each child. Now that I have been schooling for some years now without one, I am not sure I could handle having to use one now.

I have to have one only because I personally feel unorganized if I don't, LOL I'm a compulsive organizer and list maker, so that's probably why. I think also since this is our first year doing this, that I feel a little more at ease with a curriculum. :)

ive never used a full one before, there was only a couple (abeka and bju) when i started homeschooling and they were expensive! so i couldnt afford any. I had to make up my own, got use to doing that every year, collecting bits and pieces every year, so doubt that i would buy one, well i know i wouldnt now days!

I felt the same way at first. Now that I have had some feed back over the years, I am more sure of what I teach the kids. However, I am always looking to learn more, especially in math and science. :)

Quoting jackies_jewels:

I have to have one only because I personally feel unorganized if I don't, LOL I'm a compulsive organizer and list maker, so that's probably why. I think also since this is our first year doing this, that I feel a little more at ease with a curriculum. :)

i used to think that I was always leaving something out in our teachings. :) Feeling that way always made me double up my efforts though and now with my oldest graduating, I will feel less skeptical teaching without using any curriculums. :)

Quoting mynameismuerte:

I feel more organized and as though I am less likely to "forget" to teach something by using a curriculum.

ive never used a full one before, there was only a couple (abeka and bju) when i started homeschooling and they were expensive! so i couldnt afford any. I had to make up my own, got use to doing that every year, collecting bits and pieces every year, so doubt that i would buy one, well i know i wouldnt now days!

Do you repeat the next year what you have gathered or do you find new stuff?

i use the same math and lang arts, but the unit studies are all new stuff, depending on what the kids want to learn about

Quoting kirbymom:

Quoting oredeb:

ive never used a full one before, there was only a couple (abeka and bju) when i started homeschooling and they were expensive! so i couldnt afford any. I had to make up my own, got use to doing that every year, collecting bits and pieces every year, so doubt that i would buy one, well i know i wouldnt now days!

Do you repeat the next year what you have gathered or do you find new stuff?

I don't have one really.... I mean they do some lessons on ABCmouse.com, brainpopjr.com, a-z reading, and starfall.com; but it's at their leasure. Right now I print out stuff or buy work books of stuff that I think they should know. I do try to think about what an average kid would learn in PS but I also keep in mind that my kids are HS because I want them to learn at their own pace and focus on their interests. I might get a curriculum in a year or so tho. I am just not too sure yet.

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